To be seen at environmental show!

The Ashtead Technology stand at AQE 2017 (Telford GB 24-25/5/2017) will feature a comprehensive range of both workplace and emissions monitoring instruments including the latest technologies from TSI and Testo.

With a range of the cutting edge technologies, and a choice of financial options, visitors will be able to ensure that their instrumentation matches both their needs and budget.

Visitors will be able to see TSI’s Environmental DustTrak ambient air quality monitor (with MCERTS), as well as the latest portable DustTrak instruments, offering visitors the opportunity to try the instruments – to take particulate measurements and view the data handling and display capabilities.

Testo’s portable emissions analysers, the Testo 340 and 350 (with MCERTS) will also be on display. These instruments are able to measure multiple gases simultaneously in combustion emissions from engines, turbines, boilers, burners and other combustion sources.

 @ashteadtech @AQE_Show #Pauto #TandM

Wanted Dead or Alive.

Ashtead Technology is offering a trade-in for old emissions analysers, no matter what their condition or manufacturer. As part of the deal, customers will receive money off a new Testo 350 or Testo 340.

The Testo 350 is an industrial emissions and combustion analyser, capable of measuring up to six gases simultaneously from a selection including O2, CO, COlow, NO, NOlow, SO2, H2S, CO2 and CH. Typical applications include service measurements on industrial engines, compliance testing on gas turbines and efficiency testing for industrial burners. The instrument complies with the MCERTS performance standards for Portable Emission Monitoring Systems (Certificate: Sira MC090159/03) which means that its performance has been tested and verified by a respected third party and can be employed for regulatory compliance monitoring. The Test 340 is a smaller, more economical instrument, capable of measuring up to four gases simultaneously.

Explaining the advantages of upgrading to a new instrument, Ashtead Technology’s Josh Thomas says: “This is a great opportunity to save money on a brand new instrument; there are more sensor options and thanks to a patented automatic dilution function, it is now possible to measure high gas concentrations, with easier application-specific menus and data export via Bluetooth, USB or the Testo Printer.

“Portable instruments are often exposed to a variety of demanding field conditions so with a robust housing and built-in impact protection the Testo 350 is ideal for customers with multiple measurement locations.”

The Testo 350 is available to purchase with a choice of unheated or heated sampling probes and Ashtead’s staff can advise on suitable probes for measurements involving high temperatures, high dust loads or wet flue gas. Rental units are also available with a 335mm Flue Gas Probe (Max Temperature 500°C). Alternatively, there’s an optional 700mm Gas Sampling Probe (Max Temperature 1000°C).

Ashtead’s ‘Dead or Alive’ analyser offer is open until the end of 2016.

Anyone wishing to cash in their old analyser and upgrade to the latest Testo instrument, should   email London@ashtead-technology.com . As Josh says: “It’s worth a quick call; alive or dead, your old analyser could be worth a lot of money!”

@ashteadtech  #PAuto 

Automated temp monitoring!

Testo has supplied its latest temperature and humidity data logging system, Saveris 2, to Stansted Laboratories’ facility in Barking (GB).

Stansted Laboratories is a highly successful UKAS accredited laboratory of 20 staff analysing over 50,000 samples a year in a purpose built facility. It specialises in microbiological analysis of water and air, with its main income derived from Legionella testing of water and drinking water bacteriological analysis.

Maintaining precise temperatures within its devices - incubators, fridges, freezers and water baths – and cold room is essential to ensure accuracy and for compliance with UKAS’ stringent requirements, as is maintaining a detailed record. Stansted Laboratories had been monitoring and recording equipment temperatures manually, but as the company grew this became a time consuming, labour intensive activity.

Following a site visit, Testo recommended its Saveris 2 system, a highly cost-effective, flexible temperature and humidity data logging solution specifically for small to medium sized applications, which still provides the accuracy and reliability of its larger ‘parent’ system, Saveris 1.

15 Saveris 2 wireless temperature data loggers are now in use at Stansted Laboratories. The majority of the loggers are T2 which are being used to monitor temperatures in fridges, fridge freezers and incubators from -25°C to + 50°C, with T3 loggers with specialist flexible probes used for the 50°C water baths and a T1 logger with internal NTC temperature sensor in the cold room. The T2 data loggers are being used with a Testo Penetration probe NTC with ribbon cable (2 metre length) which is exceptionally flat allowing it to be pushed through narrow openings, such as the door seal of the fridges and incubators without impacting the performance of those units.

The measured temperature values from all the data loggers are automatically recorded by the Saveris 2 system and sent directly over a wireless LAN to the Testo cloud (online storage), requiring no manual intervention. The information is formatted into an easy to read graphic based report for each data logger and available as a pdf or csv file which can be emailed daily, weekly or monthly. Stansted Laboratories has opted for a daily report. Furthermore, authorised personnel can access data logger information at any time and from any location with an internet-enabled smartphone, tablet or PC, for maximum convenience.

For Stansted Laboratories, a key benefit of the Saveris 2 system is the automation. Anu Tavarasa, Laboratory Manager explains: “we were doing the readings manually, which took us half hour in the morning and another half hour in the afternoon. We wanted to automate this to save time. We tried several data loggers but they didn’t work for us as they were taking a long time to download. The Testo system is very fast. Not only has it freed up an hour every day for us to do analysis, but it’s very user friendly. I like the way we can look at the data online whenever we want; we do this regularly – three times a day at least. The alerts are also very useful, which come direct to the lab.” Saveris 2 provides free email alerts, plus up to 25 free SMS alerts a year (per logger), with alert parameters configured by the customer.

Whilst accuracy is clearly essential, for Stansted Laboratories the ease of use and flexibility of Saveris 2 has been a winning combination. The entire system is automated, needs no maintenance except for yearly recalibration (as standard with all test and measurement equipment), staff do not require training, and is both easily expandable and simple to install; so much so that when Stansted Laboratories recently expanded into adjacent premises, staff simply picked up the data loggers and moved them with the equipment without any need for Testo’s assistance.

@TestoLimited #PAuto #Laboratory @HamiltonGasProd

Partnership for emissions monitors.

Testo has appointed Ashtead Technology as platinum distributor for its portable emissions analysers, the Testo 340 and 350. As part of the agreement, Ashtead also becomes Testo’s Preferred Rental Partner for this equipment.

“We have been renting Testo emissions analysers for over 10 years and our team have built up a wealth of application and product knowledge. They are extremely popular items in our rental fleet, providing customers with the ability to monitor and improve process efficiency or to demonstrate environmental compliance, so we are delighted to be able to also offer them for sale,” says James Carlyle, Ashtead’s General Manager.

“It is standard practice at Ashtead for staff to be trained by our manufacturer suppliers, however, the expansion of our activity with Testo will mean that we will invest further in product and application knowledge for the Testo equipment. This also means that customers will be able to rent alternative instruments whilst their own equipment is unavailable for any reason.”

The Testo 350 portable flue gas analyser is a self-contained portable emissions analyser system that can be configured with up to 6 sensors for the measurement of gases including O2, CO, CO2, NO, NO2, SO2, H2S and hydrocarbons in combustion emissions from engines, turbines, boilers, burners and other combustion sources.

By demonstrating compliance with the performance requirements of the Environment Agency’s MCERTS scheme, the Testo 350 is certified for the measurement of O2, CO, NO, NO2 and SO2. The Testo 350 weighs approximately 4.8kg and has automatic sample conditioning systems to provide representative samples from a range of combustion sources. The entire system operates independently on rechargeable batteries, or it can be connected to either AC or DC power (11 to 40V). A handheld control unit can operate the analyser ‘docked’ in the analyser unit or remotely from the base unit via a data cable or wireless Bluetooth connection.

The control unit provides the user with a simple interface and communications. By selecting options from brief menus, users are able to quickly configure the system and start monitoring. For example, the user is prompted to select the application (burner, turbine, engine or user-defined), the fuel type and the measurement type. Automatic programs for unattended operation facilitate remote, event driven, and/or long-term testing. A Bluetooth printer provides documentation of test results, an internal data logger records up to 250,000 data points, and internal calculations can be performed automatically.

In addition to gas concentrations the Testo 350 provides on-screen information such as O2 reference corrections, combustion efficiency, excess air, flow, mass-emissions and flue gas loss.

Summarising James Carlyle says: “Our objective is for emissions monitoring to be as simple, fast and efficient as possible. By offering the Testo analysers for both sale and hire, customers are able to select the option that best meets their needs and budget.

“The Testo instruments are extremely robust and simple to operate and we deliver them calibrated, checked and ready for work, so customers are able to start monitoring very quickly.”

Mike Murley, Testo Business Unit Manager, is delighted with the new partnership. He says: “Ashtead Technology has an extremely good reputation for supplying the best products and excellent service, so this agreement is great news for anyone responsible for emissions monitoring.”

@TestoUSA @ashteadtech #PAuto

New thermal imaging cameras

New thermal imaging cameras from Testo, including their first in a camcorder design

Testo  has launched two new models to add to its range of thermal imagers, the Testo 876 and Testo 882. This is the third generation of thermal imaging cameras from the measurement technology specialist Testo, who entered the thermography market in 2007. Daniel Auer, Director of Product Management Infrared Measurement Technology: “Testo combines consistently strong technology with innovation. With the new products, we are establishing technical standards to be able to offer our customers even more added value.”

Testo 876 - Strong Technology in Camcorder Design

The Testo 876 is the first Testo thermal imaging camera in a classical camcorder design. The light, 900g imager is equipped with a rotatable display. This makes thermography possible even in difficult-to-access places. This new design opens up new possibilities, especially for professional industrial thermography because the display can be rotated by up to 180 degrees, making it possible to work above your head. Benefits extend to both building and industrial maintenance and servicing, enabling difficult to access areas to be thermographed from a different angle. Furthermore the exchangeable lens ensures optimum attention to detail. Thanks to its low weight and easy operation, the Testo 876 adapts optimally to the requirements of the thermographer – for fast and versatile work.

Testo 882 - Best Image Quality
As the first Testo thermal imager with a 320 x 240 pixel detector, the Testo 882 promises high accuracy without the necessity of an exchangeable lens. Equipped with a 32° lens, the new model offers the user all image details at a glance, ensuring fast, uncomplicated and precise work. The precise infrared images allow even the smallest faults in difficult-to-access places or dangerous zones in industrial systems to be identified precisely, reliably and from a safe distance.